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On 19th November 2018, Prime Minster Imran Khan, while inaugurating the two-day International Rahmatul-lil-Alameen Conference at Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad, Pakistan, delivered a ‘historic’ speech. The conference was convened to coincide with and thus enhance the celebrations of Eid Miladual Nabi, the birthday festivities of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). YouTube and other electronic records have captured every action and word of the whole event for posterity. Despite the fact that Mr Imran Khan’s speech had a glaring blunder (subject matter at hand) it still received several resounding applauses. This may be accepted as a special perk for being Pakistan’s Prime Minster, elected or selected. During the speech, Khan Sahib came across as a committed, but somewhat an ignorant, Muslim, a devout follower of the Prophet of Islam, but one who had not read the Qura’an, and a sincere political leader albeit one with no appreciation or knowledge of history. However, in matters of the content of his speech, which obviously was not written, he did seem to have been carried away. This, in itself, is not an unusual phenomenon during such extemporaneous oratorical ventures, especially for our Khan Sahib, who still has to learn that speaking from a podium is not like swinging a bat at a ball hurled at you by any one of the world’s best fast bowlers. Public speaking is not like playing cricket!

So we begin with a very brief summary of the Prime Minsters speech which lasted for a total of 21 minutes and 38 seconds. (Full speech can be assessed on internet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6XUAMWHYRw). Mr Imran Khan began with thanking various organizers and dignitaries, and then gave his personal testimony of becoming a real Muslim through the guidance of one MianBashir Sahib during the final phase of cricketing career. It was a powerful personal testimony of Allah’s graciousness to our then cricketing champion. Khan Sahib then expounded upon his own spiritual journey, and some deep spiritual insights. He went on to stated that ‘Welfare state is not made with resources, instead it is made with mercy, when you are worried about people’. He pointed out that Madina was the first welfare state, and that it was not made with excessive resources but with the fact that the Prophet had a heart full of mercy for people. He said that this first welfare state was established, which is part of the history. The Prime Minster, then went on say “other prophets of Allah came but, that, in the human history they have no mention. Or they have very little mention, Hazrat Musa is mentioned in history but there is no mention of Hazrat Isa in history”. The contents of this last quotation, lasting for 14.6 seconds were made into a video clip and shared on social media. Within hours the clip went viral. Reactions and started appearing on Facebook, YouTube, instagram, WhatsApp and other social messaging sites. (To watch just the 14 seconds segement that went viral click: https://www.facebook.com/sarwar.bhatti.146/videos/2390546081172682/UzpfS... ).

The Urdu speaking Christians around the world who watched and heard the clip were hurt, deeply, many became very angry, and some were infuriated. Why would a ‘knowledgeable’ man like the Prime Minister of Pakistan say something to suggest that Hazarat Isa (Jesus Christ in Christian terminology) is not mentioned in history. Immediately questions were raised, what history books, if any, did Mr Imran Khan have in mind, when he uttered these words? The facts are that Jesus Christ is one of those very few names in history that has been mentioned umpteenth number of times. Everybody seems to know this, with one notable exception that is of course Mr. Imran Khan, the Prime Minster of Pakistan. Yes, my Prime Minster!

The speech started attracting (negative) comments immediately and globally. One tweet that caught my attention read: “Was he high again or an ignorant fool?” This line really captures the issue: Khan Sahib either made his claim in ‘the heat of the moment’, or call it slip of the tongue or, just being ‘high’, or being elated at the prospect of addressing a conference full of the world’s best Islamic scholars or… Yes, or could it be that what he said was what he actually believes. Now if Khan Sahib really and sincerely believes that Jesus Christ is not mentioned in history, then he is wrong. Plain and simple! And if he sincerely believes it, then he is sincerely wrong.

A newspaper column is not an appropriate place to help educate a Prime Minster of any country, but neither is a religious conference an appropriate place to hurt religious feelings of the followers of any other religion. Mr Khan’s remarks have been heard by millions around the world. Thanks to the lightning speed at which information travels around the world these days. This nonsense of a comment has not diminished the honour of Jesus Christ one iota, but it has hurt the religious sentiments of millions of his followers. Jesus Christ, or Isa in Islam, is accepted to be the penultimate prophet of God Almighty by all Muslims I know, and is mentioned or referred to in the Qur’an more than any other person. Jesus is one of the significant figures in Islamic theology and is mentioned in the Quran 25 times by the name Isa, he is also referred to as the “Son of Mary”, and referred to many times by various other titles, attributes and references. A total count of all such mentions and references is 187 or over. So Mr Imran Khan Sahib, what history were you thinking of, when you said that, “ But that is no mention of Hazrat Isa in history? May be you were not thinking of the Quran but secular of history. Let’s have a look.

The study of the historical authenticity of an event or a person is called historicity. The historicity of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is established not only beyond any reasonable doubt, but beyond any doubt whatsoever. The matter has been settled many times over by the world’s leading researchers and scholars. The oldest mention of this historical figure Jesus Christ is found in the two of the most well respected first century historians’ works. Josephus Flavius and Publius Cornelius Tacitus mention Jesus by name. Unfortunately one of Josephus’ mentions has been allegedly tampered with, the other two haven’t. Josephus was a Jewish-Roman who lived in first century AD (c 37 – 100) was a scholar and a historian whose books Jewish Antiquities and The War of the Jews and Siege of Masada found in all respectable libraries and book stores. Jesus Christ is mentioned in Josephus’s books, if someone cares to read. Tacitus another important historian, who also lived in first contrary AD (c 56 -120, was a Roman senator, consul and a governor. His two surviving and extremely important works are, the Annals and the Histories. Mention of Jesus can be found in his works, for those who read. His books are part of the great and most respected corpus of historical knowledge.

In short, Jesus Christ is mentioned in history, if you do not find him in the history books you have, then maybe you need to get some real History Books. The problem is not that Jesus is missing in history; the issue is that for those who do not read nothing exists in the books. There is a lot of trash out there which masquerades as history. But real history is gold, it is more precious than pearls and rubies and diamonds. Real History is real, because it is about real events and real people. Khan Sahib, let’s get real. A reality check is being called for. It is bad enough when the world thinks that an average Pakistani is ill informed, but how can we as Pakistanis take the jibe: Pakistan’s Prime Minster is ill informed, (at least in the most basic matters of history!).

Other than the written history, archeology keeps spewing up the evidence of a historical Jesus. Just to mention one source, on 23 Oct 2002, Marcus Warren (New York) published an article which said, the words "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" inscribed on an empty 1st century ossuary have provoked a flurry of excitement in the world of biblical archeology. The inscription on a limestone box dated AD 63, only three decades after the crucifixion. This was hailed as the first mention of the historical Jesus Christ, earlier even than the Gospels. Jesus appears is in history. (By the way, BC means Before Christ, and AD means Anno Domini, Latin for Year of our Lord, reference to Jesus Christ).

I am sure the Prime Minster is aware of the long time it took him to become a good cricketer, it has also taken him 22 years to become the Prime Minster, it will take him a long time to become a good speaker, if he did not really mean what he said, i.e. what he said was a slip of tongue, then he should come clean and say so. Just accept it, it was a mistake. On the other hand if what is said is what he really believes then I think we are in a crisis, because Pakistan has at her helm a man who is totally, and very dangerously ignorant of both history and his own religion. Jesus Christ is of course mentioned by name in both the most authoritative texts of history and religion, the Prime Minster needs to read both. I would now like to end here with one humble request to Mr Imran Khan: Honorable Prime Minster Imran Khan, please take a few moments to reflect upon the consequences if the same, or similar, words had been uttered about another prophet, by the followers of another religion, any religion, what would have been the reaction? What it the shoe was on the other foot?

When the highest court of a country gives a verdict the nation listens, accepts and gets on with the business of leading their lives as usual. This however, has not happened so, in the land most beloved to me, Pakistan. Therefore, reactions to Pakistan’s Supreme Court’s verdict of 31st October (Wednesday) 2018 merit reviews and reflections. Pakistan, it seems, is different, perhaps special is a better word.

We all have heard soundbites like ‘Justice rushed is justice crushed’, and ‘justice hurried is justice buried’, however in the case at hand, namely Asia Bibi versus Qari Mohammad Salaam, justice was neither rushed nor hurried, instead the proverbial wheels of justice turned ever so slowly, and the case dragged on for over nine years (from 19 June 2009 to 31 October 2018). If anything, it became a prime example of ‘justice delayed is justice denied’. And so when the verdict was finally announced on the stated date, most of the world applauded the courageous, fair and above all legally sound verdict, and heaved a sigh of relief.

On the following day, the said verdict was printed in its entirety in both English and in Urdu newspapers, and is still available on the internet in both languages. It is a gem of a document, and is representative of the profound wisdom, highest level of legal learning, a full command of Islamic jurisprudence and clarity of expression. However, it is a long document, 56 pages in English. As I believe that most of my readers would not have had the time or the inclination to read the full document, so I summarize the salient points which became the basis of Asia Bibi’s acquittal. (The language used below is not legal, and for that the reader is encouraged to read the original document available on the internet: https://www.docdroid.net/8jNdoE9/judgement.pdf).

by Anne-Isabelle Tollet

Asia Bibi was arrested on 19th June 2009, when Qari Mohammad Salam filed a Blasphemy case against her based on an ‘incident’ which allegedly took place on 14th June while Asia Bibi and other 25-30 ladies were picking falsa berries in the fields of Mohammad Idrees, in a village near Ittanwali. As a result, Asia Bibi was arrested, trailed and sentenced by the Addl. Sessions Judge, Nankana Sahib with the offense under Section 295-C of Pakistan Penal Code (PCP) to be hanged to death and a fine of Rs. 100 000. The same judgment was later upheld by the High court, but Asia Bibi through her lawyer Mr Saif-ul-Malook appealed against it to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The case was heard by the Supreme Court on 08 October 2018, and the verdict of Asia Bibi’s acquittal was declared on the 31st October 2108. (To read a summary of Asia Bibi’s complete saga please visit: https://www.cuwap.org/node/108)

Following is a summary of the points on which the non-guilty verdict of was reached.

1. Inordinate delay of about 5 days in registering the case. The alleged incident took place on 14th June 2009, but the first information report (FIR) no. 326 was filed in the Police station Saddar Nankana Sahib on 19th June 2018.

2. The complainant admitted that the application submitted for registration of FIR was drafted by an advocate. (The complainant himself was not present at the place of the alleged incident ethier).

3. There were about 25-30 ladies present when the alleged incident took place but the case revolved around the testimony of only two of them, Mafia Bibi and Asma Bibi.

4. No prior permission form the central/provincial government was obtained to register this FIR.

5. The nature of the case required that the investigating officer be the rank of the Superintendent of the Police, instead, it was investigated by sub-inspector Mohammed Arshad, this was later rectified and the case was investigated by Mohammad Amin Bukhari SP.

5. Asia Bibi’s requests to take an oath on the Bible to prove her innocence at the early stages of this saga were denied.

6. It was alleged that Asia Bibi had confessed the commission of the crime, but when the details of this extra judicial confession were investigated, following inconsistencies became apparent. A. The place where the extra judicial confession took place and B. the number of people present.

I must point out in this short article that in any criminal proceedings where the quantum of the proposed punishment is high the benefit of the doubt always goes to the defendant. And in this case there was a lot of doubt in the narrative of events. Furthermore Asia Bibi had always maintained her innocence in the case.

The verdict was prepared by Mr Justice Saqib Nisar, HCJ, Mr Justice Asif Saeed Khan khosa and Mr Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankkhel. It is gem of a verdict, a great read for those who love to get to the bottom of what really happened in this poor woman’s case.

It starts with the Shahada. The honourable justices had painstakingly detailed their thought processes leading to the non-guilty verdict. They have given references of the Holy Quran, the Ahadith, and even a very famous and beloved shair (verse) of Dr Allama Iqbal. Reading through the pages of the verdict, I felt, the honourable justices have left no stone unturned to consider everything, to overlook nothing and to reach a fair and just verdict. Their sincerity and efforts have paid off.

When the long awaited verdict was announced the world reacted with joy, admiration and a sense of relief: that is most of the world. The verdict soon became a must read for journalists, human rights activists and other intellectuals who like to keep a finger on the pulse of world events. A world-class legal document had hit the net, Pakistan could rightly be proud.

But while most of the world, including millions of Pakistanis, Muslims and non-Muslims alike applauded the verdict, there was, (and still is) a group of Muslims in Pakistan, who identify themselves as Tehreek-e Laibak Pakistan (a registered political party) and are led by a firebrand leader, Allama Maulana Khadim Rizvi. Mr Rizvi has a phenomenal memory and a vocabulary to match, and both combined make each of his speeches a call to action, some sort of immediate and drastic action. The fact that he is a wheel-chair user does not seem to affect his high-powered vitriol. After, the declaration of Asia Bibi’s verdict on 31 October, he and all his colleagues and followers turned the guns of their vitriolic oratory, initially towards the three justices of the supreme court, Prime Minister Irman Khan, the Chief of the Army Staff, General Qamar Javaid Bajawa​ and then towards everyone who did not seem to share their unique theology and sentiments.

Among other things, Maulana Rizvi has earned himself a place of prominence among Pakistani masses for his ‘colourful and descriptive’ (let the reader understand) choice of words. While most decent Pakistanis, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, find his vitriolic speeches abhorrent, his followers relish them, and listening often break into a frenzy of repetitive chant: Labaik, Labaik, Labaik, Ya Rasool Allah Labaik. His complete mastery over the emotions and behaviour of his Tehreek’s followers is complete and very obvious. It was his and his fellow leaders vitriol that lead to the violence that almost paralyzed certain parts of Pakistan on the first three days of November. No one knows who gained in that turmoil, but there is little doubt that in those chaotic days, many lost their peace of mind, others their property and livelihoods and some their life. As a whole, Pakistan lost billions of dollars’ worth of wealth and trading opportunities. In Pakistan, even a verdict that no-crime has been committed came with a price tag of billions of dollars.

Pakistani people are extremely religious and deeply devout. Millions of them are sincere followers of the religion of their choice. It is this sincerity that also serves as their weak point, as many strong spirited leaders, like Maulana Rizvi, can use this asset of a quality, to whip up unbridled anger that can lead, initially to peaceful protests and then as the mob dynamics change to vandalism, unbridled and very costly vandalism. The whole spectrum from peaceful demonstrations to the most heinous form of thuggery and destruction was seen in the few days following the Asia Bibi’s not-guilty verdict. The riots that resulted led to thousands of Pakistani police officers in their full riot gear to fire tear gas and rubber bullets. On Friday and Saturday the scenes in Islamabad

and Rawalpindi were messy. Rizvi’s vitriol was paying off, and the result was street power of vandalism. Mr Rizvi’s volunteers, I am sure had not read the 56-page verdict either, but had listened to and fully understood what their leader wanted from them: A show of power. And Show of power it was! Yes of power and not of peace. In this case at least for two to three days his volunteers delivered what the firebrand leader had wanted them to.

According to the Worldwatch list of fifty countries where it is hardest to be a Christian, Pakistan is listed as number five. While it was hoped that the acquittal of Asia Bibi would help Pakistan find a more favourable view in the eyes of the international organizations, both political and human rights, the vitriol and vandalism caused by The Tehreek’s people has not helped Pakistan’s situation. Asia Bibi’s case became almost a litmus test for the situation of human rights in Pakistan as she belongs to every single category of vulnerability. She is a non-Muslim, a woman, mother of two, illiterate, abjectly poor with no social or political status.

As a Christian and as a patriotic Pakistani as I write this article, I am also thinking of Christmas in the month ahead of us. And as we wish the tradition of justice and fairness to prevail in Pakistan, I also would like all our readers to continue to pray for Pakistan. Pakistan is a land of hope, faith and promise, and despite the vitriol of the likes of Allama Khadim Rizvi, or the vandalism of the like of all the disgruntled protesters of November one, two and three, we cannot afford to lose the sight of our real heroes, the likes of Mr Justice Saqib Nisar, HCJ, Mr Justice Asif Saeed Khan khosa and Mr Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankkhel. For in the end, neither vitriol nor vandalism, but only fair and just verdicts must win. Justice and fairness must prevail. There is no other option. (To read a Summary of Asia Bibi’s story please visit: www.cuwap.org, and click Book Reviews, for views, comments and correspondence: injeeli@hotmail.co.uk)

Humsookhanand The Minorities View, the twin magazines, are back after eight months of absence. To read these magazine free please click the link: http://www.theminoritiesview.org

These magazines have been published for the last fourteen years continuously from England. The founder and the editor in-chief of these magazines Mr Emmanuel Zafar has told cuwap.org that now these magazines will continue without any foreseeable problem. The purpose of these magazines is to serve the minorities in Pakistan.

Sarfaz Tabassum is a well know author, poet and a literary critic. Cuwap.org is pleased to share this article by him, which has now been reproduced by several reputable Urdu publications, including Daily Jang, London, and Ausaf. Tabassum's observations of Father Mukhtar Alam's work are deep, honest and fair. However, I believe that due to space restrictions he has been judiciously economical with the literary aspects he has chosen to comment about. It is my sincere hope that Mr Tabassum will expand on this article and comment on Father Alam's panoramic grasp of literary and social coverage. Having read many of Father Alam's book I am very impressed with both the acuteness of his observation and with his command and mastery over Urdu and Punjabi vocabulary to convey his thoughts in a very precise and exact manner.

22 Sept. 2018, Pakistan Christian Press Club (PCPC) UK, representatives joined members of various other Pakistani background Christian organizations to take part in a marathon event held in Zurich, Switzerland. This was a general event in which hundreds of people participated from all over Europe. The participation of Pakistani Christian organizations was facilitated by Ms Noreen Barkat, a social activist for justice for the minorities in Pakistan. PCPC was represented by Samson Javed, (President PCPC), and Akhtar Injeeli, Wilson Chaudhary (UK) Chairman, British Pakistan Christian Association (BPCA)_, Sarwar Bhatti (Italy) represented All Pakistan Christian League, advocate J.J. George (France) represented Pakistan Orient Christian Organization, Gulbaz Fazal (Holland), Overseas Pakistani Christian Alliance, Farooq Anwar (France), Urdu Church Paris, Tasleem John, European United Action Committee and many other members from Germany, Holland and Switzerland also joined the event. The group gathered at the Ulster station, made speeches and created awareness about the situation of Christians in Pakistan. While Ms Noreen Barkat, and Mr Wilson Chaudhry joined the marathon race, rest of the members of the group stayed behind and distributed leaflets to the crowds that had gathered to witness the race. The race was named "Run for Freedom". and the runners from this group, Ms Noreen Barkat and Mr Wilson Chaudhary both wore distinctive attire to set them apart from all the other runners.

The supporting members of the group used this time to share information about Pakistan and the cause for which they had gathered there. Some people listened very intently to the participants of the event, and showed great interest in Pakistan, and her minorities, Christians and others. The purpose of these interactions was to advance people's understanding about Pakistan in general and to raise awareness about Pakistan's minorities in particular. Mr JJ George stated that it is of paramount importance that the misuse of the so called Pakistan's blasphemy laws must be stopped as this is putting a large section of the population under undue stress.

At the end of the event all members present signed a petition which was to be presented to the office of the United Nations in the Switzerland. The petition was based on the four principles which the signatories want to be upheld in Pakistan at all times. These principles are the Quid-e Azam's promise of fair treatment for all minorities, the constitutional guarantees of equality and justice, Pakistan's status as a signatory of the UNO's International charter of Human Rights and the inherent principles of justice and fairness found in Islam, the state religion of Pakistan.

Back at the station, the group offered prayers for justice in the case of Asia Bibi, and also for the justice system in Pakistan and all those who serve in it. The group also prayed for peace and justice to prevail in Pakistan, and also for the prosperity of the nation. In answer to a question Mr Samson Javed stated that every member of the group was a patriotic Pakistani, and because we want Pakistan to be a happy and prosperous country we believe that every citizen of the nation should be treated equally and fairly as provided for in the constitution of Pakistan.

This event was reported in AUSAF Daily on 02 October 2018. To read click below:

Slough, UK: On Friday evening 13th July 2018, leaders and representatives of various local Pakistani-background Christian organizations met in the St George’s Church, Slough, to review and discuss the causes of the terrorist incident that killed 21 in the twin suicide attacks that took place in the churches of Yuhannabad, Lahore, on the 15th March 2015. The main objective of the meeting called by Alliance of Pakistan Christian organizations (APCO) was to revisit the events, to analyse its causes and government’s response and to discuss various legal and socio-political ways of supporting the victims of that terrorist action which led to the lamentable loss of many precious lives, over one hundred injured, a huge loss of property, as well a as incalculable grief, anguish and suffering for the effected families and loved ones and, in which, as its aftermath, 42 local Christian men ended up in jails. Unfortunately 2 of them have already died in custody. Christian community has always condemned terrorist activity whenever, and wherever it has happened in Pakistan, and in deed anywhere around the globe, but this particular incident took place on a Sunday when the churches were packed with worshipers, and has left long, and very deep scars on the community as a whole.

Five well-established organizations participated in the event: Pakistan Christian Organization (PCO), represented by Kishan Bennett; International Christian Council (ICC), represented by Advocate Qamar Shams and Naeem Waiz; Pakistan Minorities Rights Organization (PMRO), by Asif Mall; Midlands Christian Organization (MCO), by Pastors Thomas Bhatti and Samuel Yousaf; and Pakistan Christian Press Club (PCPC) by Akhtar Injeeli. Ms Aster Khokhar served as the master of ceremonies. Other important community leaders in attendance were Mr Saleem Mattu, Roy Emmanuel, Baxter Bhatti, himself a seasoned political leader from the Sindh Province of Pakistan and others.

Various speakers emphasized their love for Pakistan and expressed their desire to see peace and prosperity to flourish in their motherland. However, the fact that unpalatable and unsocial elements, like terrorists, operate in Pakistan is a grim reality. The speakers offered their thoughts about how Christian Diaspora can help bring peace and stability in Pakistan, and how legal, financial, socio-political and moral aid can be provided to the Christian men languishing in jails as a result of the arrests which took place over three years. None of these arrested were involved in the original terrorist activity, but were arrested due the reactions they showed at the spur of the moment, in the heat of the events which complicated matters in the immediate aftermath of the events. Their trial continues.

During the meeting references were made to the amazing success of Zerb-e Azb operation by Pak Army in their fight against terrorists. As a way forward, the speakers, from ICCI, PCPC and PMRO agreed that a multi-pronged approach is needed in which we try to find ways of providing legal and moral support to the effected members of our community in Yuhannabad. PCPC representative highlighted the positive role that media can play in promoting peace and brotherhood in Pakistan. He also stated that writing down events accurately and in timely fashion so that nothing is lost to the posterity is of utmost importance, and that this is the role that PCPC is trying fulfil by various journalistic activities. Members of PCPC have be engaged in column writing (Mr Samson Javed, Mrs Shamim David), TV broadcasts (Dr Peter David, Rev John Basco), Social Media activism (Prof. Emmanuel Rafael, Taskeen Khan, Naeem Waiz), and various other media activities to spread their message. Laudable mention was also made of various other NGOs working on ground in Pakistan, like Social Justice (Mr Peter Jacob), CLASS (Mr Joseph Francis) and others. In regards to keep an accurate and timely record of events, Dr Prudent Injeeli’s book, Baptized in Blood and Fire: the untold story of persecution of the Minorities in Pakistan was mentioned. This is a work of passionate patriotism but also of honest journalistic analysis.

The meeting ended with prayers for Pakistan and for all its communities and including those affected directly by terroristic activities, like Yuhannabad.

On 25th February 2018 Mr Samson Javed, president of Pakistan Christian Press Club (PCPC), along with his associates, including Imran Joseph, John Bosco and others, arranged an awareness dinner for the members of the Pakistani background Christians. The evening was dedicated to appreciating the services of Cecil Chaudhry Jr., Executive Director of National Commission for Justice and peace (NCJP) (Pakistan Catholic Bishops’’ Conference) and discussing the situation of minorities in Pakistan. Ms Ruth Cadbury (Labour) MP for Brentford and Isleworth graced the occasion as the Chief guests for the evening where Mr Rodney J. Oliver, consultant for the Oliver and Hasani Solicitors and Mr Morris Johns, researcher and secretary for the All Parties Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Pakistani Minorities were also in attendance.

Nearly thirty members of the Pakistan Christian Diaspora gathered in a local restaurant, The Harlington Tandoori in Southall. The occasion was moderated by Mr Imran Joseph, Mr Samson Javed and John Baso. Several attendees shared their views and concerns about the plight of the minorities in Pakistan. Mr Samson Samuel and Mr John Bosco highlighted the recent case of Patras Masih and Sajad Masih, of Shahdara Lahore, and a lively discussion followed. Patras Masih was recently booked for blasphemy on the flimsy charges of misusing his mobile phone to receive (or share, nobody seems to have bothered to get to the truth of this matter) ‘blasphemous’ messages. Sajad Masih (Patras’s cousin) almost lost his life when he jumped from the fourth floor of a building to escape the torture and humiliation inflicted upon the pair by the police and FIA authorities. Sajad is in a hospital struggling for his life. The news has created a storm on the social and international media channels, but has not been reported on any of the national TV channels from Pakistan. The world of course still waits to see the justice being done to Asia Bibi, an illiterate Christian woman, who is languishing behind bars since 2009. She was charged with blasphemy for a squabble with a Muslim woman over a cup of water. While Asia Bibi is still alive, but not well in prison, Pakistan has lost two of her very high profile politicians for publicly declaring their support to seek justice for her. Governor of the Punjab, Salman Taseer, was gunned down by his own body guard Mohammad Qadri on 4th January 2011, while less than two months later, Shahbaz Bhatti, the Christian Federal Minister was shot to death in his car on his way to his office on 2nd March 2011.

Speaking on these matters Mr Qamar Rafique, along with a few other suggestions presented the idea initiating Shahbaz Bhatti Memorial lectures to keep the mission and the vision of the late martyr alive and fresh on yearly basis.

Ms Ester Das, after narrating the recent atrocities suggested the formation of a forum where youth from minorities can find catharsis for their pent up emotions and problems. A suggestion that was well received by the group, and made note of by Mr Chaudhry. Mr Cecil Chaudhry, Junior presented a comprehensive overview of the NCJP’s work, which was founded by catholic Bishop John Joseph in 1984. The Bishop struggled for the rights of the oppressed minorities and fought for justice and peace all his life, but then on 6th May 1998, when he confronted the impossible task of achieving these desired ends, he committed a protest-suicide in front of the court room in Sahiwal.

Mr John Bosco stated that the injustices and atrocities continue as was recently evidenced by the release of sixteen men accused of murder in the Mishal Khan lynching case. The facts of the matter were not vindicated, but the political strength did a Maulana Samiul Haq was able to save his sympathizers from the clutches of the law.(Mishal Khan was lynched for alleged blasphemy on 13 April 2017, in Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan).

Chaudhry explained that NCJP focuses on areas of research, advocacy and provides awareness and empowerment to the poor and the venerable. It also engages in the provision of legal and para legal aid to victims of hate crimes as well as those who are targeted because of their different faiths. He stressed that a major problem in Pakistan is of the non-acceptance of other faiths. In 1984 a martial law dictator introduced blasphemy laws to strengthen his own grip on the masses, but now their fair enforcement has become a challenge to every successive government.

NCJP has eight offices in Pakistan (head office in Lahore). It has 38 staff members and 150 volunteers; Muslims, Ahmadis, Hindus, Christians, Baha’is and others. As an organization it has had some successes, the notable ones being waging a successful campaign against Bonded Labour, opposing inclusion of a column for religion on Pakistan’s National Identity Cards (ID cards), and the restoration of joint electorate system for the minorities in Pakistan. Chaudhry said that they have had modest success but a lot more needs to be done. He stated that he lives by a quote which he often heard his father use as a moto for his own life: ‘By faith I am a Christian but my religion is humanity’.

Ruth Cadbury, MP for Brentford & Isleworth, in her short speech appreciated the work that was being done by the members of the Pakistani background Christians in the UK. While sharing her thoughts about the way forward for helping the minorities in Pakistan she promised to join APPG for Pakistan minorities, and to support it in any way possible.

Shaheen Zar asked Mr Chaudhry about how we, the members of the Christian Diaspora, can support the work of NCJP in Pakistan, and Samson Javed requested Mr Chaudhry to kindly convey the message to all our people back home that we are fighting for their cause the best we can here. In fact, it is not their cause, but our cause, just as much if not even more so. We think about our Christian brothers and sisters all the time and that this meeting is but just one example of the type of activities we constantly engage in to highlight the plight of minorities in Pakistan in front of UK authorities. Akhtar Injeeli, also brought to the attention of the attendees that when Pakistan was created in 1947, the history records a presence of minorities at 23%, however, the current reports put the same number at or below five percent. The question needs to be asked, what has happened to the minorities in Pakistan? Where have they disappeared? The others who actively participated in the debate and discussion were, Thomas Sohtra, Edgar Money and Suleman Akhtar.

In the end Councillor Morris Johns, researcher for and the secretary of All Parties Parliamentary Group for Pakistan’s minorities, thanked the attendees and the guests. The meeting ended with a dinner and exchange of pleasantries.

Since Pakistan's independence, 14 August 1947, to date Pakistan has had twelve elections, and now the nation is gearing up for the thirteenth general election scheduled for 25th of July 2018. While the majority community is looking forward to a fair fight and hopes to make gains for their political parties in general and for their communities in particular, the minorities in Pakistan are already crying foul. They are not crying foul because they are afraid that the elections will be rigged but because under the present "Proportional Representative System for minorities" introduced by General Pervaiz Musharaf in 2002, they do NOT have the right to elect their own representatives to the four Provisional Assemblies, nor to the National Assembly. Believe it or not, all the seats reserved for the minority representatives in all the five assemblies are filled by selected members by the leaders proportionately to the numerical strength of the seats their parties have won.

The Christians in Pakistan are calling this foul play - and of course, selection of candidates is NOT same as their election. In fact it is anything but that.

The above two columns represent not only the views of Mr Samson Javed, President of Pakistan Christian Press Club (PCPC), and of Mr Watson Gill, the convenor of the Overseas Christian Alliance but of nearly every member of Pakistan's Christian Diaspora that I know.

In the United Kingdom, for example, International Christian Council (ICC), headed by Advocate Qamar Shams, called an emergency meeting on 28th June 2018, in a venuel near Heathrow Airport to discuss this matter. Mr Naeem Waiz, the executive vice president, has informed cuwap.org that a unanimous decision was taken to condemn this unfair practice. About two weeks prior to this meeting, ICC had already called for a boycott of these elections.

When I have explained this system to our Muslim friends from Pakistan they two are shocked, as they have always been led to believe (as of course is the rest of the world), that the Christians in the Provincial Assemblies, (MPAs) and in the National Assembly (MNAs) are elected by the Christians. Alas, they are not. That's why I have felt it necessary that the above columns be shared widely.